BALTIMORE (WJZ)– The East Coast is on alert as a powerful hurricane churns in the Atlantic Ocean. Concerns are growing that Sandy and a second storm could collide and form a super storm. In Maryland, folks are keeping an eye on the storm’s path and getting ready for the worst.

Meghan McCorkell has the latest on preparations.

The Maryland Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) is reaching out to local leaders and preparing to activate if Sandy comes our way.

About 31,000 power crews are on standby and 500 more out-of-state crews are ready to move into Maryland. The power company is warning that if Sandy hits, hundreds of thousands of customers could be in the dark.

City officials say they aren’t expecting evacuations but they do want people to be prepared in case the power is out for an extended time.